<ARTICLE>                                        5
<LEGEND>         THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
                 FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE BODY OF THE
                 ACCOMPANYING FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN IT'S ENTIRETY BY
                 REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>


<MULTIPLIER>                       1,000
       
                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  SEP-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                       MAR-29-1997
<CASH>                             17,721
<SECURITIES>                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                      93,804
<ALLOWANCES>                       4,282
<INVENTORY>                        30,861
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                   145,086
<PP&E>                             473,272
<DEPRECIATION>                     100,677
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     828,372
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>              103,510
<BONDS>                            428,229
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>              0
<PREFERRED>                        0
<COMMON>                           0
<OTHER-SE>                         187,033
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>       828,372
<SALES>                            523,659
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                   523,659
<CGS>                              311,238
<TOTAL-COSTS>                      423,694
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                   0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                   4,282
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 17,613
<INCOME-PRETAX>                    47,746
<INCOME-TAX>                       127
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                47,619
<DISCONTINUED>                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                    0
<CHANGES>                          0
<NET-INCOME>                       47,619
<EPS-PRIMARY>                      0
<EPS-DILUTED>                      0